Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged political and traditional leaders in the country to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term campaign in office in order to ensure the nation’s political and economic stability.
Oyintiloye, who made the request on Sunday while interacting with journalists in Osogbo, stated that the nation’s economic and political stability should be a top priority for leaders right now.
According to him, Tinubu’s re-election would stabilize Nigeria, and in his second term, the President would continue to maintain fairness in the federal government’s development effort for all regions.
He added that political and traditional leaders, particularly those in Southern Nigeria, needed to safeguard President Bola Tinubu from a small group of elites from the North who are determined to prevent his reelection in 2027.
He stated that Tinubu has been a friend of the North and has always backed its political cause, thus he deserves to have the region’s support for his second term bid.
He did, however, voice worry that when a Southerner becomes President, a dissident group from the North frequently forms a clique and uses every available means, including blackmail, to destabilize his administration.
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Oyintiloye stated that the country’s political history would not forget the embarrassment Southern Presidents frequently experienced at the hands of a small segment of the North in their attempt to seize power.
“This has been repeating, and the nation’s political history will not forget the intimidation that Southern Presidents frequently faced at the hands of a small number of persons from the North who always mounted strong opposition to such Presidents’ reelection campaigns.
“However, President Bola Tinubu has done enough to secure the backing of the North’s primary power bloc.
“Therefore, the moment has come for the area to further isolate the small group of people who are plotting mischief against the President.
“These individuals are self appointed leaders of the North, so the region’s recognised political leaders and royal fathers can’t continue to watch the trend and allow blackmail against Tinubu to gain traction,” Oyintiloye tweeted.
The former legislator also urged political leaders and traditional rulers in Southern Nigeria not to make themselves available to some rejected politicians from the North who are scheming against Tinubu.
He stated, “And this is all the more reason for Southern leaders to stand and coalesce in support of the President.
“This support is required to put an end to the continuous, unfavorable political trajectory that second-term bids frequently follow when a Southerner is President.
“They should shield the President against unwarranted attacks from just a handful politicians from the North.”
He also urged His Royal Majesty, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Chairman of the Council of Southern Traditional Rulers, and the co-chairmen, Obi of Obinugwu, Cletus Illomuanya, and King Jaja of Opobo, Dandeson Jaja, along with the council’s Secretary, Benjamin Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi 1, Dein of Agbor, to champion Tinubu’s support within the region and collaborate with their colleagues from the North to ensure Tinubu’s victory in 2027.
“I would also like to ask former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Prof. Wole Soyinka, former President of the Nigeria Senate Ken Nnamani, and other Southern elders to rise to the occasion and prevent a repeat of terrible history.
“They should defend Southern Nigeria from the few Northern power mongers,” according to him.
